Votes Recounted at Old Kibra Polling Station After Results Went Missing

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga casting his vote in Kibra Constituency on August 9, 2022.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga casting his vote in Kibra Constituency on August 9, 2022.
COURTESY

A chaotic scene was witnessed at Old Kibra primary school polling station after a presiding officer lost the presidential results (form 34A) leading to the ballots being recounted

Media reports indicated that the IEBC officials resorted to opening the ballot boxes and counting the papers in the presence of party agents. 

The missing documents attracted attention given that Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga had voted at the same polling station.

From left, Azimio La Umoja flag bearer Raila Odinga and Kenya Kwanza's Deputy President William Ruto while at polling station casting their ballots on August 9, 2022.
From left, Azimio La Umoja flag bearer Raila Odinga and Kenya Kwanza's Deputy President William Ruto while at polling station casting their ballots on August 9, 2022.
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Results of the presidential results are counted at the polling station and recorded on Form 34A. The forms are then sent to the constituency Returning Officer who tabulates them and comes up with a Form 34B. 

The 290 Form 34Bs are then submitted to IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati who declares the final presidential results as recorded in Form 34C. 

The IEBC portal had indicated that Deputy President William Ruto had defeated Raila in one of the streams at the polling station. The portal indicated that Ruto garnered 1,947 votes, followed by Raila who got 2,632 votes. 

While casting his vote, Raila received overwhelming praise from his supporters who welcomed him with jubilation. However, despite the massive turnout, only 4,000 turned out to cast their votes, representing a 56.5 percent voter turnout. 

Currently, the IEBC portal showed 46,094 forms 34 A had been uploaded- representing 99.71 percent of the total 46,229 presidential forms. 

The presidential race is pitted as a two-horse race between DP Ruto and Raila. IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati affirmed that the final presidential results would be announced as soon as the tallying was done. 

"Even though the law allows them seven days to announce presidential results, the Commission shall endeavor to conclude this exercise at the earliest possible,” Chebukati stated. 

The IEBC chair also affirmed that they would not go through the tallying process until they received the original images of Form 34 A and 34B from the various returning officers at the centre. 

From left: Former IEBC Commissioners Juliana Cherera, Commissioner Abdi Guliye and Chairman Wafula Chebukati at the Bomas of Kenya on Monday, August 8, 2022
From left: Former IEBC Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera, Ex-Commissioner Abdi Guliye and Ex-Chairman Wafula Chebukati at the Bomas of Kenya on Monday, August 8, 2022.
Kenyans.co.ke